Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-11-18

even for riders. Formerly parties of
''prospectors" or solitary gold seekers
had frequently passed that way into the
recesses of the mountains, which, in va
rious places along the range, were said to
bear promising indications of the pre-
cious metal. Recently, however, they had
taken other roads or had abandoned the
quest altogether in that neighborhood.
Almost touching the great misshapen
trunk of the oak tree was huge bowl
der, so followed out on its southern side
as to form recessed seat where one
could rest absolutely screened from the
view of any who should chance to pass
along the road but since Stella had
taught in the canyon school she had
never, while resting under the oak, seen
a wayfarer pass by.
The fresh breeze r,lstled the foliage, the
hooking bird changed its note to one of
yet greater sweetness. The sunlight mel
lowed and the shadows grew longer. The
mountains began to put on those magical
tints which transform them from stony
giants-gaunt and arid-into forms of
surprising loveliness.
Stella had left her seat, and turning
northward, was giving them a lingering
farewell look, when-was not that the
sound of footstep?-just where the road
wound past a projecting rock. A footstep
and hurried, painting BREATH
Invountarily the girl shrank back into
her recess.
There, unless indeed the footsteps
should turn aside into the shadow, she
Ia no nl1enl,,tx,lx- Tho solitude
had somewhat strained her nerves; her
heart beat violently.
The footstep came nearer, nearer; was
close at hand now; but did not pause.
The painting breath and now smothered
groan caught Stella S ear distinctly.
Breathing hurriedly herself, she bent
forward as the step passed on. She
saw slender, roughly dressed man,
travel stained, with a wallet strapped
upon his shoulder. She caught
one glimpse of a colorless face with look
of haunted horror in it, and, before she
had time to wonder she saw why.
Footsteps again, and this time two men
following that other. Two men, or were
they tiends?
Narrow, cleaning eyes, straight black
locks falling half over brown, devilish
faces, swinging yet crouching gait,
nervous, claw like hands that swung
with a half fluttering motion, as though
by anticipation lowering over the prey,
now so near.
And what was thisp One of them held
coil of rope which even now he was
shaking, posing in air, then, with a
marvellous dexterity, flinging forward.
1t fell, and in falling, circled round the
body of the man before them.
All, merciful heaven! can that be q
human sound? That yell of hideous
triumph which mingled with the choking,
despairing cry of the victim!
For one moment Stella leaned against
the tree, numb and breathless with hor.
ror-the next-such a passion, such ar
almost frenzy of righteous vengeance
seized her that her heart seemed bursting
in her bosom.
Alas she was but frail girl after al
she trembled like an aspen in the wind
"God give me strength" she gasped a:
her shaking hand closed on the littl,
weapon-the friend whose hour had come
at last
The man had fallen forward on hi
face; the Indians stood over him; on,
stopped to cut the wallet from hi
shoulder. They must have supposed it
contents of value, since even the maste
passion, cruelty, gave way for moment
Then they turned him over and nut
tered disappointedly to one another, TO
the level sunbeams fell on W hat seemed
dead face. The weather stained hat ha,
fallen off and disclosed broad fair fore
head with a mass of bright tangled hair
One of the Indians seized the loos
locks with one hand, in the other a dread
full knife flashed back the sunlight for al
instant as it descended on the unconsciou
head.
A yell of pain and fear, wild leap int
air. The knife fell to the ground, Will
the hand which held it was pierced b
the messenger of unseen vengeance.
Selling the wallet the unwounded Ir
dian turned to fly, while the other, thrus
ing the mangled hand into the bosom {
his ragged coat, followed him, groanin
as he did 80. Another bullet whizzed pa.
them-yet another, third buried itse
in the arm that grasped the wallet, an
one more struck the shoulder Of tn
Indian first wounded.
The wallet had dropped, while the tw
ruffians, bleeding, groaning, and yet rur
ming for dear life, disappeared behind tt
projecting rock.
Then Stella sank upon her knees an
sent up voiceless cry of thankfulness I,
the Great Avenger.
Dizzy and faint she stepped out Of HI
hiding place. 1t was not twenty yar(
to where the man lay motionless, wit
the sunlight streaming on his brouze
cheeks and fair forehead,
Was he deaR
She knelt down beside him and laid h,
hand lightly on his forehead.
, No. he had but swooned.
The necessity for action and the RAJ
furious thought that she had saved tn
fellow beings life, acted like a sudde
powerful stimulant upon the girl. 81
knew of small stream among the rock
quite near at hand, and, almost hyir
thither, she filled her straw hat with Il
, water returnad and bathad with IL III